Christmas Day 2025 Merry Christmas! Back in the 50s and 60s the corner of Bourke & Swanston was dominated by a giant (slightly scary) Santa with a finger beckoning you into the store behind - Foys, a pretty big Art Deco department store, which had a rooftop Christmas carnival for the kiddies too ! It … Continue reading Giant Santa →

December 2025 This post is about how successful built form controls along the Richmond Hill part of Bridge Road have been, in my opinion. The north side has seen the most development because of the many large ex-industrial sites. I’m starting with the least successful one though, near the crest, which is huge and black … Continue reading Bridge Road big blocks but ok. →

22 December 2025 This 7 level development for the corner of Rae Street and Alfred Street North Fitzroy just permitted is apparently the first to be approved under the ‘Great Design Fast Track’ pathway recently introduced by the State Government. This allows larger developments over 5 levels in any zone other than Neighbourhood to go … Continue reading Fast tracked in North Fitzroy →

December 2025 The ex-Commonwealth Bank in Bridge Road Richmond, a fine Art Deco design from 1939. It’s also a bit formal, with the steeped massing and elaborated central section. It’s got original wonderful zigzag Deco screens to each side door and above the doors, a real delight. It sits on its ownsome, I think the … Continue reading Art Deco bank, Bridge Road →

December 2025 Nice early Victorian bank on Bridge Road Richmond, and more than just a facade retained ! It was built in 1865, making it the oldest bank in Richmond, for the National Bank of Australasia. Designed by Lloyd Tayler, who did a lot of banks around this time in restrained classical modes, this one … Continue reading Classical Bank, Bridge Road →

December 2025 Just found a two fine photos of the long gone HQ for Bank of NSW, which was in Collins Street next to the Gothic Bank. Both pics are from @library_vic, and by the Mines Department, and the same but days apart. It was built in 1934-5, and designed by Godfrey & Spowers in … Continue reading Grand Deco bank →

August 2025 The nicest surviving townhouse on the (former) Paris End of Collins Street, cnr Exhibition. Actually not much info on it, just that it was built in 1867 for Dr Wilkins, Oculist, and occupied by Drs until 1959 when it became a Commonwealth Bank. I couldn’t even find old photos of it, except 1978, … Continue reading Townhouse, Paris End →

Dec 2025 An unusual and rather jolly I think block of flats in Horsburgh Grove Armadale that looks rather 50s but dates from 1940. Called Glenunga, it was one of a bunch of wildly modernist designs by Frederick Romberg, a German who had studied in Switzerland and fled the politics back home, arriving in Melbourne … Continue reading Early modernism in Malvern →

December 2025 Katanga, on the corner of Glenferrie and Hamilton Roads, Malvern. It was the last house designed by Harold Desbrowe Annear, built 1931-33 for solicitor Wesley Ince. It’s a curious design, similar to his other boxy Toorak houses, all with a porch or porte-cochere, but there’s more going on with this one. Lots of … Continue reading Katanga, Malvern →

November 2025 Rather nice Edwardian spotted in Munro Street Armadale, with excellent layered gables, shingled walls, and diagonal projecting circular bay/porch, and lovely interiors - I thought must be by one of leaders in the style like Ussher & Kemp, but turns out to be 1914, by Arthur Purnell, who had a very long and … Continue reading Shameen, Arthur Purnell →